Dark matter particles in the galactic halo: DAMA/LIBRA results and perspectives

Most of the Universe is Dark and a large fraction of it should be made of relic particles; many possibilities are open on their nature and interaction types. Thus, their investigation is an outstanding issue in the field; for this purpose experiments offering a model independent signature for the presence of Dark Matter (DM) particles in the Galactic halo are mandatory. In this paper the DAMA/LIBRA results are described. In particular, the DAMA/LIBRA experiment is mainly devoted to the investigation of DM particles in the Galactic halo by exploiting the model independent DM annual modulation signature. The present DAMA/LIBRA and the former DAMA/NaI (exposed masses: ≈ 250 kg and ≈ 100 kg of highly radiopure NaI(Tl), respectively) experiments have released so far a total exposure of 1.17 ton × yr collected over 13 annual cycles; they provide a model independent evidence of the presence of DM particles in the galactic halo at 8.9 σ C.L.. Future perspectives are mentioned.